Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-02-09
PENINSULA SUPERSTITION.
Prevalent IN Lower Delaware anIlin
Parts of Maryland

a Washington ID. c., dispatch says:
"a belief in the supernatural and in the
|, forecasting of events by and significa-
tion-of signs and omens is not, and Is
: generally supposed, restricted entirely to
the negro race CT the Maryland and
) Delaware peninsula. Superstition is
; prevalent to considerable degree
| among the whites, and it is a curious
fact that in many families where wealth
, and intelligence predominate and impli-
, cit belief is placed in signs and tokens
and what they portend. They are sin
cere in this belief, and will cite MINER
Gus instances where mysterious knock
upon the door, the startling rattling of
"a windoW-sash when the air was calm
) dog have been followed by bad luck
TO give apparent strength to it.
, Among the white laboring classes
superstition holds their minds with 4
wonderful power. Any strange phe-
nomena in the heavens, any abnormal
condition of the weather OF any unusual
commotion on land or on sea, each have
their own special significance, and while
they all exercise an undue influence
upon the minds of these people, each
lone fOTmulateS his or her own opinion
and draw his or her OWN personal con-
Iclusions as to the probable sequence of
these signs. y lady, venerable in years,
prominent in society, living in aiiiuence
and residing in Maryland town, once
dismissed most dear and intimate ac-
lquaintance with severe reprlmand for
ltrenching on her ideas with regard to
this belief. The subject of superstition
was under discussion and large circle
IOf friends were present. This lady
friend was ridiculing such belief as pre-
lpOsterOuS and ignorant, and il was com
lmented upon adversely by several other
members of the company. But the
hostess .as invulneTable to their attacks
and humorous puns, and gOod-natured-
ly rebutted them by several incidents
which occurred which were in fresh
recollection by all present and incident
lally mentioned her horror of 4 person
looking over her shoulder while she was
standing before lOOking-glass. The
eyening wore ON, and when the cOmpa-
ny was about to diSperse the hostess
arose to arrange her hair before small
toilet lOoking-glaSS. Her friend came
up behind her suddenly and peered over
her shoulder. \ remarkable tableaU
enSued. With blanched features, the
hostess threw up her hands, and, with
wild shrek, fell swOOning to the floor.
The proper restOrativeS were reSOrted
to, and when she recovered conscious
ness she arose to her feet. nervous and
timorous. Pointing her finger at her
heretofore bosom friend, she said, in 4
firm, determined voice:
We are friends no more. Co
EXpOStulatiOn was utterly useless:
she would listen to no explanation, and
with a wounded heart AMI her face
bathed in tears, the lady took her de
lparture. This occurred twenty years
ago. They have never exchanged words
since. BY a strange coincidence Of cir
cumstanceS a month or so afterward
intelligence of the death of the only
brother of the hostess, who was in In
dia. was received.
On the fir day of the new year the
negro is debarred the privilege of enter
ing white PERSONS house, rs their
presence Is regarded rs an omen Of bad
luck throughout the entire year. Woe
he to any person with black skin who
crosses the threshold of white mans
house on the first day of the new year.
y negro man came near paying the
penalty of his fOrgetfulnCss in this IT,
spect with his life. He started in the
gate of house and was advancing to-
ward the door, when he was confronted
by the reSOlute and angry occupant,
who stood ready to receive him with
wOOd-aX. The frightened negro sud-
bering the day, turned to flee. rs he
did SO the ak was hurled after him and
went whizZIng over his head, the heave
knocking off his hat.
= There is to-day living in Lower Del:-
ware an old gentleman, once conspicu
Gus in public life, who constantly keeps
his gun charged with the old-faShioned
three-cent pieces, who has an eX Lett
belief i'll their virtue to destroy the
power of negro cOnjurerS when fired at
them. There are several more who
keep their revOlvers loaded with the
same metal for the same purpose. Why
, the annihilating qualities of silver are
more superior TO lead or gold, they are
unable to explain. Yet they are pro-
foundly sincere in their belief that 4
yolley of the jingling metal fired at, not
into, the body Of conjurer, will dis
solve his mysterious power, and prevent
him from committing harm.
Superstition in the negro is proverbial.
We can easily understand that the root
from which springs his absurd ideas Is
ignorance But why it should hold
men and women of brilliant minds and
of high social distinction in its grasp Is
a psychological question we cannot
answer.
In some parts of Maryland the people
will not have the house leek, small
green plant bearing pink flower, upon
their premises. This plant blooms, ac-
cording TO their theory, but once III
seven years, and should one of them be
in or near the house Al the time of
blooming, when the tiny bud begins to
develop some one will be taken sick,
and as it continues TO expand they will
grow worse, and when it has blOJmed
into the perfect flower they will die.
Another superstition characteristic of
this ostracised plant is that so long as
any one carries leaf about with them
adversity will be at their heels.
There are countless numbers of signs
and omens of ill-luck, sickness, death,
disappointment, etc., that makes a GU
rious and Interesting category. The
hOwling of dog is sure sign of death,
and when throwing your shoes on the
floor, should they turn upside down the
grim specter will claim some member of
the family ere the year has passed. The
dropping of the dish-rag foretells the
coming of a stranger; 10 meet funeral
on the street is an i'll omen, and many
will go squares out of their way to avoid
meeting an approaching cOrtege; TO go
out of 1e house and, forgetting some
simple article, have to return for it pre-
sages disappointment, and you must sit
down and cross your legs if You would
dissolve the spell and be successful in
your errand. These and many other
equally absurd notions are prevalent
among the people of the lower peninsula,
and it seems as though the advancing